Police say they have leads in officer's slaying

E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune

Ron Tucker arrives at the home of Clifton Lewis, an off-duty CPD officer who was shot and killed the previous evening while working security at an Austin convenience store. Tucker's daughter Tamara Tucker had become engaged to marry Lewis on Christmas Day.

Ron Tucker arrives at the home of Clifton Lewis, an off-duty CPD officer who was shot and killed the previous evening while working security at an Austin convenience store. Tucker's daughter Tamara Tucker had become engaged to marry Lewis on Christmas Day. (E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune)

Jeremy GornerTribune reporter

Although detectives are sifting through a significant number of leads in the investigation into last week's slaying of Officer Clifton Lewis, no arrests have been made, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said today.

"We're getting a lot of cooperation from the community. We have enormous amounts of information coming in," McCarthy said at a news conference at the West Side's Austin District station, where Lewis worked as a tactical unit officer. "The point is, we haven't caught the right bit of information."

Lewis, 41, an eight-year veteran, was off-duty working as a security guard at M&M Quick Foods, 1201 N. Austin Blvd., on Dec. 29 when he was fatally shot during a robbery by two bandits.

Several police recruits as well as Lewis' fellow officers handed out fliers Wednesday in the Austin neighborhood, urging the community to continue to come forward with any information that could be useful in the investigation.

Since Lewis' death, more than $20,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the officer's killers.

Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), who said Lewis lived in her ward, spoke fondly of him during the news conference.

"What was so great about him that I really loved, he worked in the community that he lived in," said Mitts. "That's the first thing I thought about."

McCarthy, who said he went on patrol with Austin District officers on New Year’s Eve, said 131 guns were taken off the streets throughout the city that day, compared to 83 a year earlier.

Funeral services for the slain officer are scheduled for Thursday at United Missionary Baptist Church, 4242 W. Roosevelt Road, according to Police News Affairs.

A ceremonial arrival is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by public viewing from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

The St. Jude ceremony will be held at 10:45 a.m., followed by church services at 11 a.m.

Anyone with information about Lewis' death should call 1-888-YPO-SHOT.